Originally published January 8, 2018 at 12:43 pm
Updated January 8, 2018 at 3:45 pm

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan (Elaine Thompson / AP)

The search for a new chief comes after Kathleen O'Toole stepped down on Dec. 31. Carmen Best, a deputy chief under O'Toole who joined the Seattle Police Department in 1992, is serving as interim chief.

“We have seen tragedies like Charleena Lyles and know very much the final thing that can happen when a police officer gets involved with citizens,” Durkan told the 25-member search committee, referring to the fatal shooting by officers last year of a Seattle mother inside her Magnuson Park apartment.

“I want to acknowledge the deputy, Daniel McCartney, who was killed in Pierce County,” Durkan said. “He was a Navy veteran, a father of three and only 34 years old.”

Seattle must equip its officers to “avoid tragedies like Pierce County suffered yesterday” and also know that interactions between officers and community members are critical, the mayor said.

Durkan said she’s confident the committee will “come up with three names” of candidates for chief and believes Seattle is “a destination where people will want to be police chief,” due to the city’s relatively low crime rate, its booming economy and the department’s progress on reforms.